Knee Arthritis Treatment in Auckland
PRP and SVF cell therapy as part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints. A doctor reviews your case and tests first
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?
Arthritis refers to inflammation within a joint. Typical complaints are resting and night-time pain, morning stiffness beyond half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth. It may be driven by autoimmune disease like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, by gout, by an infection or by a former injury.
PRP and SVF are there to help calm inflammation and pain and to support the joint's tissues; they do not stand in for a rheumatologist treating a systemic disease. The doctor first confirms what kind of arthritis it is and chooses the right time — never during an active joint infection or a severe flare.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Both large and small joints — after reviewing your scans, the doctor decides on the joint, the method and how many injections you need
Elbow
Pain after strain in sport or overuse, and worn surfaces inside the joint
Hand and wrist joints
Pain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Worn cartilage, meniscus issues and pain climbing stairs or after a walk
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Wear in the joint and the tendons around it, painful arm raising
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
Processing a small sample of adipose tissue from your body isolates the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — cells that play a part in tissue repair. This is combined with your plasma and injected straight into the affected joint.
Its effect on local inflammation and tissue repair is why it is used in inflammatory arthritis, after the acute flare has settled.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
The joint receives plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, separated from a small amount of your own blood. It helps inflammation settle and creates better conditions for the tissue to repair.
As one element of the whole treatment plan, it may be recommended in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor decides on the procedure only after examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. You are welcome to send any scans you have before the appointment.
Blood sample for PRP
A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is later prepared from it.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Under local anaesthetic we take roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a single puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh — no stitches required.
Processing in a centrifuge
Once the centrifuge has spun the sample into layers, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Guided by ultrasound for accurate placement, the doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor decides on the procedure only after examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. You are welcome to send any scans you have before the appointment.
Blood sample for PRP
A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is later prepared from it.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Under local anaesthetic we take roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a single puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh — no stitches required.
Processing in a centrifuge
Once the centrifuge has spun the sample into layers, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Guided by ultrasound for accurate placement, the doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint.
Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Follow-up visits
At each follow-up visit the doctor checks the joint's response and adjusts the plan — over the first month pain usually eases, over about three months mobility improves, and over around six months the full effect develops.
Conditions we treat
Your scans are reviewed and you are examined before a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: flu, a cold or fever, and skin inflammation over the joint to be treated
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
Most patients return home the same day and to normal activity within a day or two; small dressings are put over the puncture sites. The first week may bring slightly more aching in the joint, which is an expected reaction. During the first month the pain tends to ease, during about three months mobility and activity improve, and over around six months the full effect develops. How long it lasts depends on the person — the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — so a fixed result cannot be promised by anyone. Do not stop medication prescribed by your rheumatologist without talking to them first.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We work on keeping your own joint rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
We use only your own adipose tissue and blood, with no synthetic or donor material
No crutches
Punctures instead of incisions, local anaesthetic, no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send us your X-rays, MRI or medical reports for a free, independent assessment by a doctor
Support after the procedure
We track the result after the procedure and keep in touch, rather than stopping at injection day
Arthritis treatment prices
After the consultation the doctor names the cost, which depends on the joint, the arthritis type and the method
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
In arthritis the joints are inflamed. People usually notice pain at night and at rest, stiffness in the morning that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, and redness and heat over the joint. It can be caused by autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, by infections, by gout or by psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
It does not replace the treatment prescribed by your rheumatologist, but PRP can complement it: in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis it may help reduce local inflammation, pain and swelling, as platelet growth factors influence the immune response and tissue repair.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
There is currently no way to cure psoriatic arthritis completely, as it is a chronic disease. The aim is long remission: keeping inflammation in check and preventing joint deformity, with regenerative injections as one possible part of the plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
SVF contains cells that can modulate the local immune response and support the repair of damaged tissue in the joint. Research in this area is ongoing, so the doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
The procedure is off the table during an active joint infection, a severe flare or pregnancy, and with cancer or blood clotting disorders — the doctor postpones it or suggests another option instead.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Inflammation from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout is knee arthritis — redness, warmth, marked swelling and a knee tender to touch. Cartilage wear is osteoarthritis, which usually shows as aching pain and a dry crunch when moving.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Because inflammation keeps the joint's pain receptors stimulated all the time — moving, resting or at night — treatment aimed at reducing it, including PRP and SVF, can ease the pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Because pregnancy is a contraindication to joint injections, including PRP and SVF, arthritis treatment during pregnancy is only decided jointly by a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. Send us the results of your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood tests: a doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you if regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Without treatment, it may lead to lasting deformity of the joint, loss of function, osteoporosis and harm to internal organs such as the kidneys, lungs and heart. Treating it in time prevents these complications.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Arthritis in Auckland: from diagnosis to follow-up
The causes of arthritis vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old injury. In Auckland, the doctor first confirms the type of arthritis, because treatment depends on it.
No crutches and no hospital stay are needed. The puncture sites are small and covered with dressings, and the doctor stays in touch with patients in Auckland after the procedure.
Send your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results. Patients from Auckland receive a free assessment and a clear answer on suitable treatment and its price.
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